B2 · 47 words

Joining words in German

The conjunctions and connectors that turn correct short sentences into writing that reads as connected.

These are the highest-yield words on the site for anybody past the first year, because they are what separates a list of correct sentences from a paragraph. Three groups behave differently and it is worth sorting them on sight. The five coordinating conjunctions — und, aber, oder, denn, sondern — change nothing. Subordinating conjunctions send the verb to the end. And connecting adverbs take the first position themselves, so the verb follows them and the subject comes third.

The words

Adjective (2)

ausdrücklichexplicit(ly), express(ly)AdjectiveB2

Das hat sie ausdrücklich gesagt.She said so explicitly.

nachträglichlater, belated; subsequent(ly)AdjectiveB2

Nachträglich alles Gute zum Geburtstag!Belated happy birthday!

Adverb (14)

deshalbtherefore, soAdverbB1

Es regnete. Deshalb blieben wir zu Hause.It was raining, so we stayed at home.

An adverb, so the verb comes straight after it.

darumthat is whyAdverbB1

Darum habe ich abgesagt.That is why I cancelled.

dennochneverthelessAdverbB2

Er hat es versprochen. Dennoch kam er nicht.He promised. He still did not come.

zudemmoreoverAdverbC1

Zudem fehlt das Geld.What is more, the money is missing.

sonstotherwise, or elseAdverbB1

Beeil dich, sonst verpassen wir den Zug.Hurry up, or we will miss the train.

alsoso, thereforeAdverbA2

Also gehen wir doch.So we are going after all.

A false friend: it means "so", not English "also".

nämlichnamely, you seeAdverbB2

Er kann nicht, er ist nämlich krank.He cannot, you see he is ill.

Never stands first in the sentence.

zwaradmittedly, it is trueAdverbC1

Es ist zwar teuer, aber es hält.It is expensive, admittedly, but it lasts.

Almost always paired with a following aber.

erstensfirstlyAdverbB2

Erstens ist es zu spät, zweitens zu teuer.Firstly it is too late, secondly too expensive.

zweitenssecondlyAdverbB2

Zweitens hat niemand gefragt.Secondly, nobody asked.

gegeneinanderagainst each otherAdverbB2

Im Finale spielen zwei alte Freunde gegeneinander.In the final two old friends play against each other.

hinzuin addition, on topAdverbB2

Zum Preis kommen noch die Kosten für den Versand hinzu.On top of the price there are the shipping costs.

Mostly in verbs: hinzukommen (to be added), hinzufügen (to add).

hinwegover, across; awayAdverbB2

Über alle Grenzen hinweg sind sie Freunde geblieben.Across all borders they have remained friends.

Usually with über: über etwas hinweg.

infrageinto questionAdverbB2

Für die Stelle kommen drei Bewerber infrage.Three applicants are in the running for the job.

infrage kommen: to be possible, to be an option; infrage stellen: to question. Also written in Frage.

Preposition (1)

anhandby means of, on the basis ofPrepositionB2

Anhand der Fotos konnte die Polizei den Täter finden.With the help of the photos the police were able to find the culprit.

With the genitive, or von: anhand eines Beispiels, anhand von Beispielen.

Conjunction (22)

undandConjunctionA1

Brot und Butter, bitte.Bread and butter, please.

aberbutConjunctionA1

Es ist spät, aber ich bleibe.It is late, but I am staying.

oderorConjunctionA1

Kaffee oder Tee?Coffee or tea?

dennbecause, forConjunctionA2

Ich bleibe zu Hause, denn es regnet.I am staying at home, it is raining.

One of the five that leave the word order alone — unlike weil.

sondernbut ratherConjunctionB1

Nicht heute, sondern morgen.Not today, but tomorrow.

Only after a negation, correcting it. Otherwise the word is aber.

weilbecauseConjunctionA2

Ich komme später, weil der Zug Verspätung hat.I am coming later because the train is delayed.

Sends the verb to the end.

obwohlalthoughConjunctionB1

Er kam, obwohl er krank war.He came although he was ill.

wennif, whenConjunctionA2

Wenn du Zeit hast, ruf mich an.If you have time, give me a call.

alswhen, than, asConjunctionA2

Als ich klein war, wohnten wir dort.When I was small we lived there.

Three unrelated jobs: a single past event, a comparison, and a role.

dassthatConjunctionA2

Ich hoffe, dass es klappt.I hope it works.

Always with a comma before it, even where English uses none.

obwhetherConjunctionB1

Ich weiß nicht, ob er kommt.I do not know whether he is coming.

English "if" in an indirect question is ob, never wenn.

damitso thatConjunctionB1

Ich schreibe es auf, damit du es nicht vergisst.I will write it down so you do not forget.

währendwhile, duringConjunctionB1

Während er kochte, deckte sie den Tisch.While he cooked, she laid the table.

Also a preposition with the genitive: während des Essens.

bevorbeforeConjunctionB1

Ruf mich an, bevor du losfährst.Call me before you set off.

nachdemafterConjunctionB2

Nachdem wir gegessen hatten, gingen wir.After we had eaten we left.

The clause goes one tense further back than the main clause.

seitdemsinceConjunctionB2

Seitdem wir hier wohnen, ist alles leichter.Everything has been easier since we moved here.

sobaldas soon asConjunctionB2

Sobald ich kann, melde ich mich.I will be in touch as soon as I can.

solangeas long asConjunctionB2

Solange es hell ist, gehen wir weiter.We will keep going as long as it is light.

bisuntilConjunctionA2

Warte bitte, bis ich fertig bin.Wait until I am done, please.

fallsin case, ifConjunctionB2

Falls etwas ist, ruf an.Call if anything comes up.

beziehungsweiseor rather, respectivelyConjunctionC1

Er kommt Montag beziehungsweise Dienstag.He is coming on Monday, or Tuesday.

Abbreviated bzw. and extremely common in written German.

sowieas well asConjunctionC1

Getränke sowie kleine Speisen sind inklusive.Drinks as well as snacks are included.

Phrase (8)

das heißtthat is to sayPhraseB2

Am Montag, das heißt übermorgen.On Monday, that is to say the day after tomorrow.

Abbreviated d. h. in writing.

im Gegenteilon the contraryPhraseB2

Im Gegenteil, es war sehr gut.On the contrary, it was very good.

im Gegensatz zuin contrast toPhraseC1

Im Gegensatz zu gestern ist es heute ruhig.In contrast to yesterday it is quiet today.

je nachdemdependingPhraseC1

Je nachdem, wie es läuft, bleiben wir länger.Depending on how it goes, we will stay longer.

sowohl als auchboth … andPhraseC1

Sowohl der Preis als auch die Lage stimmen.Both the price and the location are right.

entweder … odereither … orPhraseB2

Entweder heute oder gar nicht.Either today or not at all.

weder … nochneither … norPhraseB2

Weder er noch sie war da.Neither he nor she was there.

Already negative, so no further nicht is added.

geschweige dennlet alonePhraseC1

Er hat nicht angerufen, geschweige denn geschrieben.He did not call, let alone write.

This list belongs to Basic words: numbers, time, verbs — 16 lists and 702 words that can also be practised as a whole.

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